Corn-harvesting machine.



W. H. TILSON. CORN HARVESTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907.

92?,13. Patented July 13, 1909. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WzZZzam/YJjZw/a 'WITNESSES [NVENTOR A TTORNE- Y5 W. H. TILSON.

001m HARVESTING MAUHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907. @fifil :5, Patented. July 13, 1909.

NVEJVTOR WITNESSES; I

A TTORNE Y5 W H. TILSON. CORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907. V

7 61 3 Patented July 13, 1909.

4 SHEETBSHEET 3.

a 07a fNJ ENTOR A TTORNE V5 W. H. TILSON'.

CORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907.

Patented July 13, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W[TNESSES A TTOR/VE Y5 ANIJREW. s. emu cm PnmcLmmru nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn c.

p UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. TILSON, OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS.

CORN-HARVESTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed March 23, 1907. Serial No. 364,149.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, Vietnam H. TiLsoN, a. citizen of the United States,residing at llainview, in the county of Hale and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Corn-Harvesting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in corn harvestingmachines, and is an improvement upon the machine shown and illustratedin Letters Patent No. 833,986 granted to me on October 1906.

The object of the present invention is to foreshorten and condense themachine shown and described in the aforesaid Letters Patent and therebyproduce a better balance of the parts upon the supporting wheels. Tothis end, with the present machine, the main drive wheel is so mountedthat its axis is in the same vertical. plane as the cutter shafts andthe parts are, in the main, driven by direct connections with thetraction wheel, and otherwise by flexible connections which also are inpart utilized for the feeding of the cut stalks to the bundlingmechanism.

The invention will be fully understood from the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification, in which,-

Figure l is a plan view of the machine with some parts in section; Fig.2 is a plan view, partly in section, through the cutter and feed shaftadjacent to the main drive wheel, with the cutter and other partsomitted; Fig. I} is a plan view, partly in section, of a portion of thefeeder mechanism for delivering the cut stalks to the bundlingmechanism, and mounted on the same shaft as the devices shown in Fig. 2;Fig. st is a detail vertical section through the main driving connectionto the vertical shaft shown in Figs. 2 and Fig. is a vertical section ofthe structures carried by the main cutter and feeder shaft, showing theparts illustrated in Figs. 2. 3 and st and other adjacent parts; Fig. (3is a side elevation, partly in section. of the grain wheel and adjacentparts: Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, at right angles tothat. shown in Fig. ('3; Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the main drivingwheel and parts coacting therewith; l ig. S) is a central verticalsection through the same; and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are detail views ofthe mechanism for adjusting the height of the machine relative to thedrive wheel.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown is av two-row harvester,that is, it is adapted to operate sinnlltaneously upon two rows of corn,but, as will hereinafter appear, the machine may be adapted to work uponone row of corn by removing a portion thereof. As shown, the machinecomprises a main drive wheel 1 mounted upon a shaft 2, and through theintermediary of certain devices to be hereinafter described this shaft 2is mounted upon a main frame comprising two Ull(ll).fllll$ 3 -lextending lengthwise in the direction of travel and other beams 5-43secured to the beams 3--1l and extending across the line of travel andsupported at the end remote from the drive wheel 1 upon a grain wheel 7to be hereinafter referred to. Supported by the lateral beams 5 and (3are bars S-9 extending longitudinally in the direction of travel fromthe rear beam 3 to and in front of the front beam 5 to points in advanceof the drive wheel 1. The bars 9 extend straight forward while the bars8 are bent at an angle, as shown at 10, so that while spaced from thebars 5) at the rear of the machine and for a. distance in front thereofthey ultimately, by means of the bent portions 10, join the bars t) atthe extreme front end. The pairs of bars 8 and t) are arranged so thattwo pairs are provided with the inclined portions 10 contiguous, thusforming a colistantly narrowing mouth or guide from a point well infront' of the machine to the point where the bars 8 are joined by the inclined portions 10. In the machine shown there are two such groups ofbars 89, one forming a gathering device A for the corn stalks and theother a gathering device B for the corn stalks, suitably spaced apart toaccommodate the machine to two contiguous rows of corn; and provisionmay be made, although not indicated in the present drawings, for theadjustment of the parts A and 1% to or from each other across themachine in a manner to set the machine for different distances betweenthe rows, as has been set forth in my aforesaid Letters Patent.

Upon the extreme front portions of the gathering devices A and B thereare upwardly-stanting bars ll12 having bars til 10 corresponding to thebars 10 joined to the front of the bars 8. The parts A and B thereforeeach start at the extreme front near the ground with separated, pointedends, and the contiguous sides of the parts constituting the structuresA and B approach each other not only in a horizontal plane but also inan upwardly-slanting plane until the bars are reached, after which theseparts A and B have a clear passage between them of equal width both atthe upper 2. rt and in the horizontal plane before mentioned.

It will be observed that when the machine moved forward along the rowsof corn stalks the latter will be gathered by the eX- panded ends of thegathering devices A and B and directed to the contracted throat portionsthereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drive wheel side of the machine,it will be seen that the shaft 2 is extended inwardly, as shown in Fig.1, and carries at its end a bevel gear wheel 13 meshing with a bevelpinion 1% mounted upon a square shaft 15 vertically disposed adjacent tobut somewhat removed from the bar 8 nearest the drive wheel 1. The bevelpinion 1 1 has formed on it a sleeve 16 surrounding the shaft 15 andthis sleeve has two spaced an- .nular flanges l717 between which ismounted a circular series of rollers 18 within a collar 19 surroundingthe rollers and sleeve 16 and formed with suitable brackets 20straddling the gear wheel 13 and fast on a sleeve 21 mounted on theshaft 2. The collar 19 is made of two parts for easy adjustment to thepinion sleeve 16 and the cap portion of this collar is indicated at 22in F 2, 3 and 5, in which figures, also, the structure just described isbest shown. The square shaft 15 is turned into a cylindrical shaft atits lower end 23 (see Fig. 5) and there has a step bearin 24: fast tothe longitudinal beam 5 before referred to.

Above the bearing, the shaft 15 carries a sprocket wheel having fast onits lower face an annular cutter plate 26 arranged to extend into thespace between the two bars 8 of the gathering device A at a pointsomewhat to the rear of the junction of the bars 10 with the bars 8. Thesprocket wheel 25 supports an annular frame 26, at a distance above butparallel to it, by means of spacing connectors 27. The frame 26 has atequidistant points around its periphery radial lugs 28, shown in thedrawing as four in number, and these lugs 28 are provided withdownwardly projecting studs 29 upon which are pivotally mounted andwhich pivotally support one end of fingers 30 arranged to normallyproject radially outward from the annular frame 26. Each finger 30 hason the other side of its pivot connection a tailthere is arranged aportion 32 of a bracket fast on the bar 8 in such position that theportion 32 will come into the path of these tail-pieces 31 as they arerotated with the frame 26 and sprocket wheel 25 at a point which 'willcause them to project radially from the annular frame 26 during aportion of its travel about the axis of the shaft 15, for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear.

Beginnin at a point about in line with the shaft 2 the gatheringstructure it has in line with its bottom members 8-8 a floor 3+1 havinga side extension coacting with the edge of the annular rotary knife 26to sever the corn stalks as they are brought to this position, and thesevered butts pass upon the floor 3st which from its foremost end isslanted upward, as indicated in Fig. 5, for a purpose which. willhereinafter appear. This floor 3% extends backward at an angle to theline of travel, being flanked by side walls 3637 extendin upward as highas the inclined portions 11 of the gathering structures it and B andconstituting a means for supporting the stalks after they have beensevered and while they are being gathered into bunches and tied, as willhereinafter appear, after which the tied bundles of stalks aredischarged through the rear end 38 of the passageway formed by the floor3% and the two side walls 36-37.

The fingers 30 are so arranged as to enter the passageway leading to thefront end of the floor 34 through a curved path of which the axis of theshaft 15 is the center, and these fingers serve to engage the stalks andforce them against the cutting portion of the knife or rotary cutter andthence backward into the guide passage of which the floor 34 constitutesthe bottom, and ultimately between the walls 36 and 37, which latter areparallel from a point about coincident with the annular frame 26 to thedischarge end 38. lVhen the fingers 3O reach the parallel portion of thepassageway for the stalks their tailpieces 31 escape from the portion 32of the bracket 33 and are allowed to turn freely on their pivots and bedrawn out from behind the stalks by the continued rotation of the frame26, to be again brought into engagement with the stalks prior to theirbeing forced against the knife or cutter 26 by the further rotation ofthe annular frame 26.

Referring now to the gathering device B, there is provided for thisdevice an upright shaft 39 carrying an annular cutter tO arranged toengage against an extension 11 of a floor %2 similar to the floor 34before referred to, and this floor 42 forms the bottom of a passagewaythe side walls 3-let of which are appropriately shaped to direct andcarry the cut corn stalks toward the piece 31 and in the path of thistail-piece back of the machine and then laterally across the same untilthe wall 43 is directed forward to form the outer wall of the passagewayleading from the gatherer A, while the wall a l ultimately merges intothe wall 37 before. referred to. The stalks coming from the cutter 40over the tloor i2 and between the walls -13 and tl are ultimatelydirected into the path of the fingers 30 and carried rearwardly therebytogether with the stalks that have been cutby the rotary cutter 2t; andhave been also carried rearwardly by these same lingers. Upon the shaft39 there is mounted a series of radial arms 45 projecting from a spideretc and arranged to be carried into the throat of the gathering device Bto force the corn stalks into contact with the cutter 4L0 and its coacting part ll and ultimately cause the stalks, after being cut, to befed back through the passageway between the walls et3 and H until theyare engaged by other carrying means to be described. The spider to hasformed on it above the arms as suitable sprocket teeth for a sprocketchain 7 passing around a sprocket pinion 48 on an upright shaft it)suitably journaled in the framework of the machine.

Between the two shafts 15 and 39 but to the rear of the vertical planecutting these two shafts there is another upright shaft 50 upon which issecured a sprocket wheel 51, and the shaft lt) also carries a sprocketwheel 52. The sprocket wheels 51 and 52 receive a sprocket chain 53 fromone side of which project a series of spaced teeth 5-.t arranged toenter the passageway between the walls l3 and 4:4. and travel therealongfrom a point about coincident with the withdrawal of the arms as fromthis passageway to the coalescing of the passageway with the passagewayformed between the walls 36 and 37. This sprocket chain 53, besidesserving to carry the stalks along the passageway between the walls 4L3and st lt, also serves as a connection between the shafts 4t!) and 50.Upon the shaft 50 there is another sprocket wheel 55 receiving motionfrom a chain 56 passing around the sprocket wheel 25 beneath the lloorS-it, being suitably diverted for the purpose by an idler 57.

It will now be seen that when the machine is drawn forward by means ofthe pole 58 provided for the purpose and attached to the beam 3 of theframe, the rotation of the drive wheel 1 will be connnunicated throughthe shaft 2 and bevel gear 13 to the pinion it and shaft 15 and thislatter, through the sprocket wheel and sprocket chain 50, will drive thesprocket wheel and shaft 50, and that the latter will, by means of thesprocket wheel 51 and chain 53, drive the sprocket wheel 52, thusimparting rotation to the shaft H). The sprocket pinion etS on the shaftit) will, by means of the sprocket chain *tT, drive the spider 4(3 andwith it the upright shaft 39 and cutter lO carried thereby. It will alsobe observed that the direction of rotation of these several parts willcause the cutters and the sprocket chain 53 to travel in the properdirection. From another sprocket wheel upon the shaft 39 there extends asprocket chain 59 to another sprocket wheel (it) upon an upright shaft(31. This shaft ($1. extends upward to near the top of the machine andthere carries a bevel pinion (32 meshing with another bevel pinion 63upon a short stud shaft (S-l: suitably mounted in the framework andcarrying a sprocket wheel (35 set at an incline to the vertical andarranged at the upper rear portion of the slanting part of the gatheringstructure B. Near the point of the correspoi'iding portion of thegatherer l3 there is a pulley or sheave (3G and another sheave 7 isarranged on this slanting portion at the incline formed at the rear endof the angle piece 10. Around these sheaves and around the sprocketwheel there passes a sprocket chain (38 having projecting teeth (3S)arranged to move into the mouth of the gatherer l3 and carrying theupper portions of the stalks as the lower portions are fed to thecutters and also into the passageway between the walls 43 and l In Fig.1 the structure just described is shown as applied to the farther halfof the gatherer B, and also a portion of the sprocket chain (38 with itslingers (3t) is shown as applied to the nearer portion of the gathererB. It will be understood that this nearer side is complete like thefarther side and that the shaft 39 will be provided with a bevel pinion($2 and engaging a bevel pinion on a suitable sprocket. such as (35 atthe upper end of the inclined portion of the nearer side of the sectionB. It will also be understood that the gatherer A will likewise beprovided with a sprocket chain (38 and fingers (it) and that motion maybe imparted to these parts by an upward extension of the shafts l5 and50.

Having cut the stalks and delivered them to a point leading to thepassageway between the side walls 36 and 37, they are now ready to begathered into bundles and tied. For the purpose of compacting the stalksinto shape to be tied, the structure best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 may beemployed. The shaft 15, above the pinion l-t, carries a spider having ahub 71 which may be made cylindrical and pass through a journal box 72fast on a portion 73 of the frame of the machine and fast at one end toone of the inclined bars 11. Extending radially from the periphery ofthe spider 70 are cars T t on which are carried studs 75 g pivotalsupports for angle arms 76. These angle arms are formed on one side ofthe pivot support with elongated fingers T7 and on the other side of thesupport with angula r tail-pieces T8, peculiarly bent as shown forming83, shown in Fig. 1, and this shaft 83 also carries a needle arm 81arranged to travel across the passageway between the walls 36 and 37 andcoact with a knotter structure 85, conventionally shown in Fig. 1 sincethe structure of this knotter is immaterial to the present invention andtherefore need not be described. The knotter-actuating mech anism isindicated at 86 and receives motion through a shaft 87 driven by asuitable gear connection 88 to the shaft 50 before referred to, and adevice 89 included in the shaft 87 serves to put this portion of themechanism into and out of gear. The shaft 83 receives motion by means ofan arm 90 and a link 91 connecting it to the knotter-actuating mechanism.

The heads 77 of the arms 76 are carried by the rotation of the spiderinto the path of the stalks contained between the walls 36 and 37 andforce the stalks rearwardly toward a latch or gate 92, packing themclosely preparatory to their being tied into bundles. lVhen the needletravels across the passageway between the side walls 36 and 37 thesegmental frame is moved in a direction to allow the heads 77 todisengage from the stalks so that they will no longer at this time forcethe stalks toward the gate 92, nor do they again engage the stalks toforce them toward the gate 92 until the bundle has been suitably tied inthe usual manner and the needle has been withdrawn from the path of theoncoming stalks. It will be understood that the gate 92 is properlyactuated to permit the tied bundles to pass to the rear or discharge end38 and to be again returned into position before the oncoming stalks areforced far enough to the rear to engage this gate, but since thismechanism forms no part of the present invention and may if'desired, besimilar to that shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent, the details ofconstruction are not herein shown and no further description of thispart of the mechanism is necessary.

In order to adjust the frame of the machine at different distances fromthe ground so as to cut the stalks longer or shorter as may be desired,provision is made for elevating or depressing the frame relative to thesupporting wheels. For the grain wheel the structure best shown in Figs.6 and 7 may be employed. The lmb 93 of this wheel is mounted upon ashort stud 91 coming from a plate 95 about midway of its length. Thisplate is constructed to move vertically in two grooved side bars 96 faston an upright 97 bolted to an end bar 98 where it joins with. the end ofthe beam 5 of the machine. The end bar carries within suitable bearingsa roller 99 and over this roller there passes a chain 100, one end ofwhich may be fast to the plate 95 and the other end of which may beadjustably secured thereto as by passing one of its links over a pin101, this end of the chain being first passed over the upper ec ge ofthe plate 95 and thence downward until in position to engage over thepin 101. Now, by pulling on this chain this end of the frame of themachine may be lifted or lowered to the desired extent and then byengaging a link of the chain over the pin 101 the machine frame will besecurely held in adjusted position.

To adjust the drive end of the machine, the structure shown in Figs. 8to 11 may be employed. In this case there is fast upon the beams 3 and 1two upright frames 102 103, each formed on one side with notches 101arranged in vertical series and on the other side with gear teeth 105arranged in vertical series. These frames 102103 are each provided withvertically arranged guide grooves for aplate 106 in which is formed ajournal bearing 107 for the shaft 2. Each plate 106 carries at its lowerend a pawl 108 having teeth 109 adapted to the notches 101 beforereferred to, and these pawls serve to hold the frame in the adjustedposition with relation to the shaft 2. In order to effect the verticaladjustment of the shaft, each plate 106 has a journal for a pinion 110meshing with the gear teeth 105 before referred to, and these pinionsare arranged fast upon and carried by a shaft 111 termi nating in acrank 112 and handle 113 removably insertible through the wheel 1 sothat when these pinions are turned by means of the crank 112 theframework will be raised or lowered as desired, the pawls 1.08 havingbeen first removed from the notches 104.

For the purpose of throwing the drive wheel into and out of gear withthe drive shaft, 1 may use the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and12. The hub 1141 of the drive wheel is mounted to turn loosely on theshaft 2 and is confined between two collars 115 and 116 abutting againstthe hubs 107 of the plates 106. The outer end of the hub 114 is providedwith a circumferential flange 117 terminating in an axially projectingoverhang portion 118 forming a housing within which is located thecollar 116, which latter is held to the shaft 2 by a set-screw 119 orother equivalent means. The collar 16 is provided with a radial sideextension 120 to which is pivoted a pawl 121 constrained to move in onedirection by a spring 122. lVithin the overhang portion 118 of theflange 117 there is provided a notch 123 in which the pawl is adapted tobe seated with its outer end projecting radially beyond the periphery ofthis overhang.

Pivotally supported upon a stud 12 1 formed near the upper portion ofthe plate 106 there is a lever 125 having one end 126 projecting in avdirection over the flange 117 and returned on itself so as to constitutea cam extension of the lever. This cam extension may be moved by thelever until it rests upon the overhang 118 in the path of the radiallyextending end of the pawl 121. So long as the hub 11-1 is connected tothe shaft 2 by means of the pawl 121 and collar 116 these two parts willmove together, but when it is desired to uncouple the drive wheel fromthe shaft the lever 125 is appropriately manipulated to bring theworking faces of the cam extension 126 into the path of the pawl 121where it extends radially beyond the overhang 118. A continued rotationof the wheel 1 will bring the pawl extension against one of the camfaces of the lever arm or extension 126 and the cam action thereof willforce this pawl against the action of the spring 122 outof its seat inthe notch 128, and it will be held there so long as the cam end 126 isin position to engage the pawl. \Vhen it is desired to again couple thewheel 1 and shaft 2 it is only necessary to move the lever 125 until itsend 126 is out of the path of the pawl, when the latter will engage theoverhang 118 which will ride under the pawl until the notch 123 isreached, when the spring 122 will force the pawl 121 into the notch andthe wheel and shaft will then be again coupled together for simultaneousrotation.

In order that the frame of the machine may be separated to remove thegatherer B when it is desired to use the gatherer A only, the beams 5and 6 are made in two parts and are fastened together by couplings 127.

It will be understood that suitable equalizing mechanism may be appliedto the machine to accommodate it to two, three or more horses, but saidmechanism is not shown in the drawing. Adjacent to the draft pole 58there is provided a drivers seat 128 and foot-rest 129, both fast uponthe beam 3 of the machine.

It will be observed that the supporting wheels of the machine arearranged about midway between the front and back port-ions of themachine and that the various mechanisms are so located as toapproximately balance the machine upon the supporting wheels. Also, itwill be observed that there is a direct connection between the drivewheel and the major portion of the cuttin gathering and bundlingmechanism located adjacent to the drive wheel, and thatbetween thesedirectly connected parts and the other gathering portion of the machinethe connections are largely flexible and so arranged as to be easilyremovable when it is desired to use the machine as a one-row cornharvester.

lit is also apparent that in a general way the present machine is animprovement over the machine of my aforesaid Letters Patent in that theentire structure is largely foreshortened and condensed, and that thereis provided a much better balancing of the structure upon the supportingwheels. At the same time the machine has been improved in many detailsand a more certain action of the parts is obtained by the en'iploymentof rigid connections in place of the flexible connections found in thestructure of the aforesaid Letters Patent.

Since provision is made for the vertical adjustment of the frame of themachine with relation to the wheels, and since the drive wheel isdirectly connected to the mechanism controlling the operation of thecutter nearest to the drive wheel and the other parts carried by theshaft 15, it will be seen that this vertical adjustment is provided forby making the shaft 15 vertically movable through the pinion 1 1 and thesleeve 16 formed thereon, and since this shaft 15 is square, as shown,but, if desired, may be made polygonal, the shaft will at all times berotated upon its axis by the pinion 14 no matter what may be thevertical relations of the shaft and pinion.

I claim 1. Ina corn harvester, a drive wheel, a drive shaft and a grainwheel, all having their axes in the same vertical plane, a verticalshaft carrying a rotary cutter, a. gathering reel close to the cutter,and another gathering reel remote from the cutter, all with their axesin the same vertical plane and in the vertical plane of the axes of thedrive and grain wheels and drive shaft, gatherers projecting in frontthe drive wheel axle, a bundle mechanlsm to the rear of the gatheringreels, and means for directing the cut stalks from the cutter to thebundling mechanism, the gatherers at the front of said vertical planeand the bundling mechanism at the rear thereof being in substantialbalance one to the other.

2. A double row corn harvester including two gathering members, oneremovable from the other, two cutting members and shafts therefor, therebeing a. cutting member for each gathering member, a single bindingmember, and means for delivering cut stalks from one of the cutters tothe binding mechanism, a drive wheel, direct connections between thedrive wheel and one of the cutter shafts, removable flexible connectionsbetween the two cutting members for driving the same synchronously, andfor permitting the ready separation of the removable gathering memberfrom the main portion of the machine, and means carried by the flexiblemnnectious for delivering cut stalks from the removable cutter to themeans for delivering stalks from the other cutter to the binding member.

3. A corn harvester comprising a suitable main frame, a drive Wheel, ashaft or axle therefor, a vertical shaft directly connected to the driveshaft through suitable gearing and located in a vertical planecoincident With the axis of the shaft, a cutter carried by said verticalshaft, a guide frame leading to said cutter, a passage-Way leading fromsaid cutter, feeding and packing mechanisms also mounted on saidvertical shaft and movable into and out of the passage Way, an auxiliaryframe removably connected to the first-named or main frame, a guideframe carried by said second named frame, another cutter, anothervertical shaft carrying the same in operative relation to the last-namedguide frame and in the same vertical plane with relation to the axis ofthe drive Wheel shaft as is the first-named "ertical shaft, feedingmechanism mounted on the lastnamed vertical shaft, and flexibleconnections between the first-named vertical shaft and the secondvertical shaft for driving the latter from the main drive Wheel and alsoconstituting the means for directing the stalks from the second cutterto the packing mechanism adjacent to the firstnamed cutter.

4. In a corn harvester, a drive Wheel, a shaft or axle therefor, avertical shaft directly connected to the drive Wheel axle in thevertical radial plane thereof, a cutter mounted on said vertical shaft,feeding and packing mechanisms also mounted on said vertical shaft,means for maintaining stalks delivered by the packing mechanism inoperative position, and tying mechanism in the path of the stalks fortying the same into bundles, said packing mechanism acting to assemblethe cut stalks into bundles prior to the action of the tying mechanism.

In a corn harvester, a drive Wheel, a shaft or axle therefor, a verticalshaft directly connected to the shaft or axle in the vertical radialplane thereof, a cutter mount ed on said vertical shaft, a guide frameleading to said cutter feeding and packing mechanisms also mounted onsaid vertical shaft, means in the path of the stalks delivered by thepacking mechanism for tying the same into bundles, said tying mechanismbeing located on the side of the vertical shaft remote from the guideframe, another vertical shaft in the same vertical radial plane as thefirst-named vertical shaft, a cutter and feeding mechanism mounted onsaid second vertical shaft, a guide frame leading to the last namedcutter, said secondnamed vertical shaft With the part-s carried therebyand the guide frame leading to the cutter being removably connected tothe structure carrying the other vertical shaft, flexible connectionsbetween the two vertical shafts for driving the second shaft from thefirst shaft provided With means for directing cut stalks received fromthe second cutter to the packing mechanism carried by the first verticalshaft, and means coacting With the said flexible connections for guidingthe cut stalks received from the second cutter to the packing mechanismcarried by the first-named vertical shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

VILLIAM H. TILSON.

Witnesses S. I. FRY, JNo. G. HAMILTON.

